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The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas

The mission of The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas is to establish and manage charitable funds to strengthen and expand Methodist ministries across Arkansas.

$1.5M
Granted FY2024still arriving
50
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$418k
Largest
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2024.

Religion$4.2MEducation$984kHealth$749kHousing & Shelter$298kHuman Services$249kFood & Nutrition$229kRecreation & Sports$166kYouth Development$92kOther$0
02FY2024 · 50 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 50 grants below total $1,321,078, the rows itemized in this filing. The $1,546,384 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $225,306 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k10 grants · $67k
  • $10k–50k36 grants · $672k
  • $50k–250k3 grants · $165k
  • $250k+1 grant · $418k
$15,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$226M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Arkansas Conference UMC$417,569
Mt Eagle Retreat Center$65,000
Philander Smith University$50,000
Hendrix College$50,000
Mountain Home Food Bank$40,000
Methodist Family Health$38,002
The Manna Center$35,000
Imagination Library$30,000
Wesley College - Tanzania$30,000
The Centers$25,000
Immerce Arkansas$25,000
Donaldson Foundaiton$25,000
Lil Rock Wash and Roll$25,000
Community Rescue Mission$25,000
Community Services Inc$25,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY21–24, $199k) land where the poverty rate runs at 15%, against an area that typically sits at 13%. 75% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 13%Community Services Inc: $25k → 18%Samaritan Community Center: $18k → 17%Arkansas Advocates for Youth and Family: $23k → 17%Samaritan Community Cener: $15k → 8%Arkansas Advocates for Youth and Families: $8k → 17%Sunshine School and Development Center: $15k → 8%NWA Children s Shelter: $20k → 8%Immerce Arkansas: $25k → 17%Immerse Arkansas: $25k → 17%Centers for Youth and Families: $25k → 17%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

81%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$5.8M · 31 repeat orgs$1.3M to everyone else

31 repeat relationships: 19 still active in FY2024, 12 since wound down; 31 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

31
40

Total granted

$5.8M
$887k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+5%
+38%

Still filing today

61%
48%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 66% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $446k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’20’21’22’23’24
EducationHuman ServicesHealthYouth DevelopmentFood & NutritionHousing & ShelterOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • MF
    METHODIST FAMILY HEALTH FOUNDATION
    5× · 2020–2024 · $442k · revenue +17%
  • HC
    HENDRIX COLLEGE
    4× · 2020–2024 · $357k · revenue +11%
  • LP
    Lydia Patterson Institute
    2× · 2020–2021 · $216k · revenue +5%

Funded once

  • OC
    Other charitable organizations none exceeding 5000
    one grant, 2020 · $184k
  • CP
    CHILDREN'S PROTECTION CENTER
    one grant, 2023 · $52k · revenue +12%
  • AF
    ARKANSAS FOODBANKgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $50k · revenue +151%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Central Arkansas Development Council

To provide services to low income individuals.

Community Improvement
2
The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas

The food bank of northeast arkansas provides hunger relief to people in need in twelve counties in northeast arkansas by raising awareness, securing resources, and distributing food through a network of non-profit agencies and programs.

Human Services
3
Northwest Arkansas Food Bank

To nourish northwest arkansas communities by feeding hungry people through partnerships with other hunger relief organizations.

—
4
Arkansas Sheriffs Youth Ranches Inc

The organization provides a therapeutic shelter and care for homeless and/or abused children.

Housing & Shelter
5
Arkansans for Education Reform Foundation
Education
6
United Methodist Children's Home

To provide quality compassionate behavioral healthcare services to children and families of arkansas through a comprehensive continuum of programs which include residential treatment center care, therapeutic group home care, emergency…

Human Services
7
Legal Aid of Arkansas

To provide legal assistance & housing counseling to the underprivileged citizens of north arkansas.

Crime & Legal
8
The Arkansas Center for Independence

Habilitation and residential services for adults with developmental disabilities

Human Services
9
Arkansas Cash for Kindness

To provide assistance to those in need living in the community.

Philanthropy
10
Arkansas Construction Education Foundation

Provide educational programs for construction industries.

Education
11
University of the Ozarks

True to our christian heritage, we prepare students from diverse religious, cultural, educational and economic backgrounds to live life fully.

Education
12
East Arkansas Youth Services Inc

The mission of east arkansas youth services, inc. is to provide a comprehensive continuum of care to include therapeutic, educational, and advocacy services, to youth and their families, and to instill motivation and courage to empower…

Human Services
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Centers for Youth and Families Inc; the most unlike its peers is The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

49 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 49 of the 102 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
12
Early backer (in before they grew)
49/49
Grantees still filing
27/49
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ARKANSAS CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: $2,753,100 · OtherARKANSAS CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCHOther charitable organizations none exceeding 5000: $184,379 · Other+69 more: $1,451,532 · Other+69 morePhilander Smith College: $487,500 · EducationPhilander Smith Colleg…HENDRIX COLLEGE: $357,300 · EducationHENDRIX COLLEGEUNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOUNDATION INC: $229,255 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS…Lydia Patterson Institute: $216,063 · EducationLydia Patterson Instit…+6 more: $122,200 · Education+6 moreMETHODIST FAMILY HEALTH FOUNDATION: $441,978 · HealthMETHODIST NURSING HOME OF FORT SMITH IN: $25,000 · HealthSHEPHERDS HOPE HEALTH CENTERS INC: $25,000 · HealthALZHEIMER'S ARKANSAS PROGRAMS & SERVICES: $20,000 · Health+1 more: $15,000 · HealthOZARK MISSION PROJECT INC: $147,554 · Housing & ShelterMicah 6 8 Initiative: $80,000 · Housing & ShelterHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS INC: $40,000 · Housing & ShelterCENTERS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES INC: $50,000 · Human ServicesIMMERSE ARKANSAS: $50,000 · Human ServicesSAMARITAN HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER: $32,500 · Human ServicesARKANSAS ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: $31,200 · Human ServicesCONWAY COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVCE INC: $25,000 · Human ServicesCOMMUNITY RESCUE MISSION INC: $25,000 · Human ServicesNORTHWEST ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S SHELTER IN DBA EVERHOPE ARKANSAS INC: $20,000 · Human ServicesSUNSHINE SCHOOL & DEVELOPMENT CENTER: $15,000 · Human ServicesCAMP ALDERSGATE INC: $166,350 · Recreation & SportsWell Fed Community Development Corp: $63,800 · Food & NutritionARKANSAS FOODBANK: $50,000 · Food & NutritionFOOD BANK OF NORTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS: $40,000 · Food & NutritionSECOND STREET PANTRY MISSIONS INC: $6,000 · Food & Nutrition
Other$4,389,011Education$1,412,318Health$526,978Housing & Shelter$267,554Human Services$248,700Recreation & Sports$166,350Food & Nutrition$159,800

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetPhilander Smith College: $487,500 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetMETHODIST FAMILY HEALTH FOUNDATION: $441,978 over 5y, 6.4% of budgetHENDRIX COLLEGE: $357,300 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOUNDATION INC: $229,255 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetLydia Patterson Institute: $216,063 over 2y, 5.7% of budgetCAMP ALDERSGATE INC: $166,350 over 4y, 2.5% of budgetOZARK MISSION PROJECT INC: $147,554 over 5y, 21% of budgetMicah 6 8 Initiative: $80,000 over 3y, 38% of budgetWell Fed Community Development Corp: $63,800 over 3y, 14% of budgetTHE MANNA CENTER: $60,000 over 2y, 3.7% of budgetLIFE SKILLS FOR YOUTH: $60,000 over 2y, 2.1% of budgetAR KIDS READ: $53,400 over 3y, 6.9% of budgetCHILDREN'S PROTECTION CENTER: $52,000 over 1y, 3.4% of budgetCENTERS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES INC: $50,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetARKANSAS FOODBANK: $50,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetIMMERSE ARKANSAS: $50,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetFOOD BANK OF NORTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS: $40,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS INC: $40,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetUNITED METHODIST HIGHER EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $37,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetSAMARITAN HOUSE COMMUNITY CENTER: $32,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetARKANSAS ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: $31,200 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetTHE WINTHROP ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION: $30,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetTANZANIA WESLEY EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $30,000 over 1y, 6.1% of budgetARKANSAS IMAGINATION LIBRARY: $25,200 over 1y, 9.1% of budgetOSCAR WASHINGTON JR EDUCATIONAL FUND INC: $25,000 over 1y, 22% of budgetMETHODIST NURSING HOME OF FORT SMITH IN: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCONWAY COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVCE INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetCOMMUNITY RESCUE MISSION INC: $25,000 over 1y, 2.2% of budgetSHEPHERDS HOPE HEALTH CENTERS INC: $25,000 over 1y, 18% of budgetFor The Love: $24,000 over 1y, 6.5% of budgetNORTHWEST ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S SHELTER IN DBA EVERHOPE ARKANSAS INC: $20,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetALZHEIMER'S ARKANSAS PROGRAMS & SERVICES: $20,000 over 2y, 1.3% of budgetARKANSAS SINGLE PARENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND: $18,450 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetPT ARKANSAS: $17,000 over 1y, 24% of budgetTHE TEEN ACTION & SUPPORT CENTER: $16,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetBAY AREA EMS INC: $15,000 over 1y, 20% of budgetSOUTHERN ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBREAKING BONDS MINISTRIES: $10,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS: $9,950 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetCrawford-Sebastian Community Development Council Inc: $9,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSECOND STREET PANTRY MISSIONS INC: $6,000 over 1y, 3.6% of budgetOUR HOUSE INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSTORYBOOK PROJECT OF ARKANSAS INC: $5,000 over 1y, 23% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Arkansas Community Foundation IncAR68.2× affinity40 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Arkansas Community Foundation Inc · Arvest Foundation · Windgate Charitable Foundation Inc · Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable And · Heart of Arkansas United Way · Riggs Benevolent Fund · Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation Inc · Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance Inc · Wal-Mart Foundation · Excellerate Foundation Charitable Support · Rebsamen Fund · Arkansas Children's Hospital

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    13report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas?

    Find your warmest path to The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 102 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

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